Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method, comprising: receiving a message having a routing identifier; assigning the message, based on the routing identifier, a temporary identifier; storing a record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier; communicating the message with the temporary identifier; updating the record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier to reflect communicating the message with the temporary identifier; receiving a response message having the temporary identifier; updating the record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier in response to receiving the response message having the temporary identifier; and communicating the response message according to the routing identifier associated with the temporary identifier.
A method for efficiently routing messages in a network involves receiving a message with a routing identifier, then assigning a temporary identifier to that message based on its routing identifier. The system stores the association between the routing identifier and the temporary identifier. The message is then communicated using the temporary identifier. The stored record is updated to show the message has been communicated with its temporary ID. When a response message is received bearing the temporary identifier, the stored record is updated again. Finally, the response is communicated using the original routing identifier associated with the temporary identifier.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the message having the routing identifier receives the message from an upstream initiator, wherein storing a record includes storing the routing identifier associated with the temporary identifier to be retrievable based on the temporary identifier, and wherein communicating the response message communicates the response message upstream, toward the upstream initiator.
This message routing method (from claim 1) receives the initial message containing the routing identifier from an upstream initiator device. The system stores the association between the routing identifier and temporary identifier in a way that makes it retrievable using the temporary identifier. When the response message is ready, it's communicated upstream toward the original initiator device using the retrieved routing identifier.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving at a destination device the message communicated with the temporary identifier; generating the response message based, at least in part, on a content of the received message communicated with the temporary identifier; and communicating the response message upstream based on the temporary identifier.
In this message routing method (from claim 1), the message communicated with the temporary identifier is received at a destination device. The destination device generates a response message based on the content of the received message. This response message is then communicated upstream using the temporary identifier to ensure it gets routed back correctly.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the destination device is a target device downstream of assigning the message the temporary identifier, and and wherein receiving the response message having the temporary identifier is upstream of the target device.
In this message routing method (from claim 3), the destination device is a target device located downstream in the network relative to the point where the temporary identifier was assigned. The response message, which includes the temporary identifier, is received upstream from this target device, ensuring proper routing back towards the initiator.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein communicating the message with the temporary identifier comprises stripping the routing identifier from the message and prepending the temporary identifier to the message.
In this message routing method (from claim 1), communicating the message with the temporary identifier involves removing the original routing identifier from the message and adding (prepending) the temporary identifier in its place. This allows the network to route the message based on the shorter, temporary identifier.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein communicating the message with the temporary identifier comprises prepending the temporary identifier to the message with the routing identifier.
In this alternative message routing method (from claim 1), communicating the message with the temporary identifier involves adding (prepending) the temporary identifier to the message while keeping the original routing identifier. The routing identifier is not removed.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein receiving the message with the temporary identifier includes receiving said message with the temporary identifier at a target device downstream of assigning the message the temporary identifier, wherein receiving the response message having the temporary identifier is upstream of the target device, and wherein the method further comprises communicating the response message from the target device, according to the routing identifier, the response message having the temporary identifier.
In the message routing method of prepending the temporary identifier along with the original routing identifier (from claim 6), the message with the prepended temporary identifier is received by a target device downstream of where the temporary identifier was assigned. The response message from the target device (still including the temporary identifier) is received upstream. The target device sends the response message using the original routing identifier, but still containing the temporary identifier.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the received message having the routing identifier includes a target device identifier, and wherein communicating the message with the temporary identifier includes communicating the message to a target device associated with the target device identifier.
In this message routing method (from claim 1), the received message with the routing identifier also includes a target device identifier. When communicating the message with the temporary identifier, it's sent specifically to the target device identified by that target device identifier.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises detecting whether a temporary identifier has already been assigned to the routing identifier, and wherein assigning the message, based on the routing identifier, a temporary identifier includes, if a temporary identifier has not already been assigned, identifying a non-assigned temporary identifier and assigning the non-assigned temporary identifier to the routing identifier.
This message routing method (from claim 1) first checks if a temporary identifier has already been assigned to a given routing identifier. If no temporary identifier has been assigned yet, the system finds an available, unused temporary identifier and assigns it to that routing identifier.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein if a temporary identifier has already been assigned, communicating the message with the temporary identifier includes communicating the message with the already assigned temporary identifier.
Continuing the method of checking for existing temporary identifiers (from claim 9), if a temporary identifier has already been assigned to the routing identifier, then the message is communicated using that already-assigned temporary identifier, reusing existing mappings.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising updating the record associating the routing identifier with the already assigned temporary identifier to reflect communicating the message with the already assigned temporary identifier.
Continuing the method of re-using existing temporary identifiers (from claim 10), the stored record associating the routing identifier with the already-assigned temporary identifier is updated to reflect that the message has been communicated using that specific temporary identifier.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier includes a pending request count indicating, for the routing identifier, a quantity of messages communicated with the temporary identifier assigned to the routing identifier for which a corresponding message with the temporary identifier has not been received.
In this message routing method (from claim 1), the stored record that associates routing identifiers and temporary identifiers includes a "pending request count." This count tracks the number of messages sent with a particular temporary identifier (assigned to a routing identifier) for which a corresponding response message has not yet been received.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein updating the record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier to reflect communicating the response message with the temporary identifier comprises increasing the pending request count, and wherein updating the record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier to reflect the receiving the response message having the temporary identifier includes decreasing the pending request count.
In this message routing method that uses a pending request count (from claim 12), updating the record when communicating a message with a temporary identifier involves increasing the pending request count. Conversely, updating the record when receiving a response message with a temporary identifier involves decreasing the pending request count.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier includes a number of pending requests counter, wherein updating the record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier to reflect the communicating the message with the temporary identifier includes incrementing the number of pending requests counter, and wherein updating the record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier to reflect receiving the message with the temporary identifier includes decrementing the number of pending requests counter.
In this message routing method (from claim 1), the stored record that associates routing identifiers and temporary identifiers includes a counter for the number of pending requests. Updating the record to reflect sending a message with the temporary identifier increments this counter. Updating the record to reflect receiving a response decrements the counter.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein assigning the message the temporary identifier includes allocating the temporary identifier to the routing identifier, wherein the method further comprises, if decrementing the number of pending requests counter results in a counter value indicating no pending requests, de-allocating the temporary identifier for a subsequent assignment.
Building on the pending request counter method (from claim 14), assigning a temporary identifier involves allocating that identifier to the routing identifier. If decrementing the pending request counter results in a value indicating no pending requests (counter reaches zero), the temporary identifier is de-allocated and made available for subsequent assignment to another routing identifier.
16. An apparatus, comprising: an interface configured to receive messages from a network; and a processor coupled to the interface, wherein the processor is configured to: receive a message having a routing identifier; assign the message, based on the routing identifier, a temporary identifier; store a record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier; communicate the message with the temporary identifier; update the record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier to reflect communicating the message with the temporary identifier; receive a response message having the temporary identifier; update the record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier to reflect receiving the response message having the temporary identifier; and communicate the response message according to the routing identifier associated with the temporary identifier.
An apparatus for efficiently routing messages in a network includes an interface for receiving messages and a processor. The processor receives a message with a routing identifier and assigns a temporary identifier based on this identifier. It stores the association between the routing identifier and temporary identifier. The processor then communicates the message using the temporary identifier. The stored record is updated to reflect this communication. Upon receiving a response with the temporary identifier, the record is updated again. Finally, the processor communicates the response using the original routing identifier.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to receive the message having the routing identifier from an upstream initiator, wherein the processor is configured to store the record to include the routing identifier associated with the temporary identifier and to retrieve the record based on the temporary identifier, and wherein the processor is configured to communicate the response message according to the routing identifier upstream toward the upstream initiator.
This message routing apparatus (from claim 16) receives messages from an upstream initiator device. The processor stores the association between the routing identifier and temporary identifier such that it can be retrieved based on the temporary identifier. The response message is communicated upstream toward the initiator using the original routing identifier.
18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to communicate the message with the temporary identifier toward a destination device downstream of assigning the temporary identifier, wherein the processor is further configured to: receive at the destination device the message communicated with the temporary identifier; generate the response message based, at least in part, on a content of the received message communicated with the temporary identifier; and communicate the response message upstream based on the temporary identifier.
In this message routing apparatus (from claim 16), the processor communicates the message with the temporary identifier to a destination device downstream. This device receives the message, generates a response, and communicates the response message upstream based on the temporary identifier.
19. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein configured to communicate the message with the temporary identifier includes configured to strip the routing identifier from the message and prepend the temporary identifier to the message.
In this message routing apparatus (from claim 16), communicating the message with the temporary identifier involves stripping the original routing identifier from the message and prepending the temporary identifier in its place.
20. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein configured to communicate the message with the temporary identifier includes configured to prepend the temporary identifier to the message with the routing identifier.
In this alternative message routing apparatus (from claim 16), communicating the message with the temporary identifier involves prepending the temporary identifier to the message, while retaining the original routing identifier. The routing identifier is not removed.
21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the processor is configured to receive the message having the routing identifier from an upstream initiator, and wherein the processor is further configured to communicate the response message received from the target device, upstream toward the upstream initiator, according to the routing identifier to which the temporary identifier is prepended.
In the apparatus that prepends the temporary identifier while retaining the routing identifier (from claim 20), the message is received from an upstream initiator. The response message received from the target device (including both the temporary and routing identifiers) is communicated upstream towards the initiator, using the original routing identifier.
22. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein configured to receive a message having the routing identifier includes configured to receive a message target device identifier, and wherein configured to communicate the message with the temporary identifier includes configured to communicate the message to a target device associated with the target device identifier.
In this message routing apparatus (from claim 16), the received message with a routing identifier also includes a target device identifier. The message with the temporary identifier is sent to the specific target device indicated by that target device identifier.
23. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to detect whether a temporary identifier has already been assigned to the routing identifier and, if a temporary identifier has not already been assigned, to identify a non-assigned temporary identifier and to assign the non-assigned temporary identifier to the routing identifier.
This message routing apparatus (from claim 16) checks if a temporary identifier has already been assigned to the given routing identifier. If no temporary identifier exists, the processor identifies an available temporary identifier and assigns it to the routing identifier.
24. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine if a temporary identifier has already been assigned to the routing identifier if the received message and, if a temporary has already been assigned, to communicate the message with the already assigned temporary identifier.
This message routing apparatus (from claim 16) determines if a temporary identifier has already been assigned and, if so, communicates the message using that already-assigned temporary identifier, re-using the existing mapping.
25. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the processor is further configured to update the record associating the routing identifier with the already assigned temporary identifier to reflect communicating the message with the already assigned temporary identifier.
Continuing the method of re-using existing temporary identifiers (from claim 24), the processor updates the stored record associating the routing identifier with the already-assigned temporary identifier to reflect that the message has been communicated with that specific temporary identifier.
26. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein configured to store a record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier includes configured to store in the record a pending request count indicating, for the routing identifier, a quantity of messages communicated with the temporary identifier assigned to the routing identifier for which a corresponding message with the temporary identifier has not been received.
In this message routing apparatus (from claim 16), the stored record associates routing identifiers and temporary identifiers, and includes a "pending request count." This count tracks the number of messages communicated with a specific temporary identifier (assigned to a routing identifier) for which a corresponding response message has not yet been received.
27. The apparatus of claim 26 , wherein configured to update the record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier to reflect communicating the response message with the temporary identifier includes configured to update the record by increasing the pending request count, and wherein configured to update the record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier to reflect the receiving the response message having the temporary identifier included configured to update the record by decreasing the pending request count.
In the message routing apparatus that tracks pending request counts (from claim 26), the processor updates the record by increasing the pending request count when sending a message with the temporary identifier. When a response message with the temporary identifier is received, the processor updates the record by decreasing the pending request count.
28. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier includes a number of pending requests counter, wherein configured to update the record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier to reflect the communicating the message with the temporary identifier includes configured to update the record by incrementing the number of pending requests counter, and wherein configured to update the record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier to reflect receiving the message with the temporary identifier includes configured to update the record by decrementing the number of pending requests counter.
In this message routing apparatus (from claim 16), the stored record includes a pending request counter. The processor increments the counter when a message is communicated with the temporary identifier and decrements the counter when a response message is received.
29. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein configured to assign the message the temporary identifier includes configured to allocate the temporary identifier to the routing identifier, wherein the processor is further configured to detect if decrementing the number of pending requests counter results in a counter value indicating no pending requests and, in response, to de-allocate the temporary identifier for a subsequent assignment.
In this message routing apparatus with the pending request counter (from claim 28), assigning the message the temporary identifier includes allocating the temporary identifier to the routing identifier. The processor checks if decrementing the counter results in a zero value, indicating no pending requests. If so, the processor de-allocates the temporary identifier, making it available for subsequent assignments.
30. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the apparatus is integrated in at least one semiconductor die.
This message routing apparatus (from claim 16) can be integrated into a semiconductor die.
31. The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising a device, selected from the group consisting of a set top box, music player, video player, entertainment unit, navigation device, communications device, personal digital assistant (PDA), fixed location data unit, and a computer, into which the apparatus is integrated.
This message routing apparatus (from claim 16) can be integrated into a variety of devices, including set-top boxes, music players, video players, entertainment units, navigation devices, communication devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), fixed location data units, and computers.
32. A computer-readable tangible medium comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor in a network operate to assign temporary identifiers to messages, the computer-readable media comprising: instructions for receiving, from an interface to the network, a message having a routing identifier; instructions for assigning the message, based on the routing identifier, a temporary identifier; instructions for storing a record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier; instructions for communicating the message with the temporary identifier; instructions for updating the record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier to reflect communicating the message with the temporary identifier; instructions for receiving a response message having the temporary identifier; instructions for updating the record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier in response to receiving the response message having the temporary identifier; and instructions for communicating the response message according to the routing identifier associated with the temporary identifier.
A computer-readable medium (like a hard drive or flash drive) contains instructions that, when executed by a processor in a network, perform the temporary identifier assignment process. These instructions cover receiving a message with a routing identifier, assigning a temporary identifier, storing the association, communicating the message with the temporary identifier, updating the record, receiving a response, updating the record again, and communicating the response using the routing identifier.
33. An apparatus for communicating messages between an upstream source and a downstream network, comprising: means for receiving a message from the upstream initiator having a routing identifier; means for assigning the message, based on the routing identifier, a temporary identifier; means for storing a record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier; means for communicating the message with the temporary identifier to the downstream network; means for updating the record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier to reflect communicating the message with the temporary identifier; means for receiving from the downstream network a response message having the temporary identifier; means for updating the record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier in response to receiving the response message having the temporary identifier; and means for communicating the response message to the upstream source associated with the routing identifier.
An apparatus for communicating messages between an upstream source and a downstream network comprises the following: a means for receiving messages from the upstream source containing the routing identifier, a means for assigning a temporary identifier to the routing identifier, a means for storing the association between the routing identifier and temporary identifier, a means for communicating the message with the temporary identifier to the downstream network, a means for updating the record associating the routing identifier, a means for receiving the response with the temporary identifier from the downstream network, a means for updating the record associating the routing identifier in response to the response, and a means for communicating the response message to the upstream source using the routing identifier.
34. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining if the routing identifier associated with the temporary identifier no longer has active use of the temporary identifier, based on a result of updating the record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier to reflect receiving the response message having the temporary identifier; and if the routing identifier associated with the temporary identifier is determined to no longer have active use of the temporary identifier, then releasing the temporary identifier for subsequent assignment to another routing identifier.
In the message routing method (from claim 1), after receiving the response and updating the stored record, the method determines if the routing identifier associated with the temporary identifier is no longer actively using that identifier. If there's no further use, the temporary identifier is released and becomes available for assignment to a different routing identifier.
35. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine if the routing identifier associated with the temporary identifier no longer has active use of the temporary identifier, based on a result of updating the record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier to reflect receiving the response message having the temporary identifier; and if the routing identifier associated with the temporary identifier is determined to no longer have active use of the temporary identifier, to release the temporary identifier for subsequent assignment to another routing identifier.
In the message routing apparatus (from claim 16), the processor determines if the routing identifier associated with the temporary identifier is no longer actively using that temporary identifier, based on updating the record after receiving the response message. If the routing identifier is no longer using the identifier, the processor releases the temporary identifier for assignment to another routing identifier.
36. The computer-readable medium of claim 32 , further comprising: instructions for determining if the routing identifier associated with the temporary identifier no longer has active use of the temporary identifier, based on a result of updating the record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier to reflect receiving the response message having the temporary identifier; and instructions for releasing the temporary identifier, if the routing identifier associated with the temporary identifier is determined to no longer have active use of the temporary identifier, for subsequent assignment to another routing identifier.
A computer-readable medium (from claim 32) contains instructions for determining if the routing identifier is actively using the temporary identifier after receiving a response and updating the record. If not, there are instructions for releasing the temporary identifier so it can be assigned to another routing identifier.
37. The apparatus of claim 33 , further comprising means for determining if the routing identifier associated with the temporary identifier no longer has active use of the temporary identifier, based on a result of updating the record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier to reflect receiving the response message having the temporary identifier; and means for releasing the temporary identifier for subsequent assignment to another routing identifier if the routing identifier associated with the temporary identifier is determined to no longer have active use of the temporary identifier.
The message routing apparatus (from claim 33) further includes a means for determining if the routing identifier is no longer actively using the temporary identifier, after receiving the response and updating the association record. It also includes a means for releasing the temporary identifier so it can be assigned to another routing identifier, if it is no longer needed.
38. A method, comprising: receiving a message having a routing identifier and a target device identifier; assigning the message, based on the routing identifier, a temporary identifier; storing a record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier; and communicating to a target device identified by the target device identifier the message having the routing identifier and the target device identifier, and having the temporary identifier prepended to the routing identifier; receiving a response message having the temporary identifier; and communicating the response message according to the routing identifier associated with the temporary identifier.
A message routing method involves receiving a message containing both a routing identifier and a target device identifier. Based on the routing identifier, a temporary identifier is assigned. The association is stored. Then, the message (including the routing and target identifiers) is sent to the specific target device, and the temporary identifier is added (prepended) to the routing identifier. When a response is received with the temporary identifier, the response is communicated using the original routing identifier.
39. The method of claim 38 , wherein the method further comprises; receiving at the target device the message having the routing identifier with the temporary identifier prepended to the routing identifier; generating at the destination device the response message, wherein the response message includes the routing identifier and the temporary identifier; and communicating the response the response message having routing identifier and the temporary identifier.
In the message routing method of sending to a specific target device (from claim 38), the target device receives the message with the original routing identifier, target device identifier, and the prepended temporary identifier. The target device generates a response message that includes both the routing identifier and the temporary identifier. The target device sends that response, including both identifiers.
40. The method of claim 39 , wherein receiving the message having the routing identifier comprises receiving the message from an upstream initiator, and wherein communicating the response message according to the routing identifier associated with the temporary identifier comprises communicating the response message upstream toward the upstream initiator, according to the routing identifier included in the response message received from the downstream destination device.
In the message routing method where a target device receives the original routing identifier and the prepended temporary identifier (from claim 39), the initial message is received from an upstream initiator. The response message, communicated using the original routing identifier (received from the downstream target device), is sent back upstream towards the initial initiator.
41. An apparatus, comprising: an interface configured to receive messages from a network; and a processor coupled to the interface, wherein the processor is configured to: receive a message having a routing identifier and a target device identifier; assign the message, based on the routing identifier, a temporary identifier; store a record associating the routing identifier with the temporary identifier; communicate to a target device identified by the target device identifier the message having the routing identifier and the target device identifier, and having the temporary identifier prepended to the routing identifier; receive a response message having the temporary identifier; communicate the response message according to the routing identifier associated with the temporary identifier.
An apparatus for message routing includes an interface and a processor. The processor receives messages with both a routing identifier and a target device identifier. Based on the routing identifier, a temporary identifier is assigned. The association is stored. The message (with both the routing/target identifiers) is sent to a target device, and the temporary identifier is added (prepended) to the routing identifier. When a response is received with the temporary identifier, the response is communicated using the original routing identifier.
42. The apparatus of claim 41 , wherein the processor is configured to receive the message having the routing identifier from upstream initiator; receive a response message from the target device, having the temporary identifier and the routing identifier to which the temporary identifier was prepended; communicating the response message upstream toward the upstream initiator, according to the routing identifier in the response message received from the downstream destination device.
In this apparatus (from claim 41), the processor receives the initial message from an upstream initiator. The processor receives the response message from the target device, and the response message contains both temporary identifier and original routing identifier. The processor communicates the response back upstream to the original initiator, using the original routing identifier received from the target device.
Unknown
October 14, 2014
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